Short Summary

A UNITED NATIONS FACT-FINDING MISSION IS IN SOUTH VIETNAM STUDYING ALLEGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION OF BUDDHISTS.

Description

A UNITED NATIONS FACT-FINDING MISSION IS IN SOUTH VIETNAM STUDYING ALLEGATIONS OF GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION OF BUDDHISTS. ON FRIDAY, (OCTOBER 25) THEY VISITED THE XA LOI PAGODA, WHICH FIGURED IN THE RECENT BUDDHIST CRISIS.

THE PAGODA, HEADQUARTERS OF THE GENERAL BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH VIETNAM, WAS DESERTED EXCEPT FOR TWO MONKS, A GROUP OF POLICE AND PRESS CORRESPONDENTS, WHEN THE MISSION ARRIVED.

ON SATURDAY, (OCTOBER 26) THE MISSION ANNOUNCED IT WAS SCRAPPING THE PROGRAMMED ARRANGED FOR IT BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND WOULD MAKE ITS OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE REST OF ITS STAY. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AMID REPORTS THAT IT WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE TIGHTLY-PREPARED PROGRAMME DRAWN UP BY PRESIDENT NGO DIEM'S GOVERNMENT.

THE 7-MAN MISSION, HEADED BY MR.ABDUL RAHMAN PAZHWAK OF AFGHANISTAN, ANNOUNCED ON ARRIVAL THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO RECEIVE PETITIONS FROM ANYONE WHO WISH TO PRESENT THEM. IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW TO CONTACT THEM, THEY LATER ISSUED A STATEMENT GIVING THEIR HOTEL ROOM NUMBER AND TELEPHONE NUMBER.

THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS ON THE CRISIS WERE GIVEN BY THE PRESIDENT, NGO DINH; HIS BROTHER NGO DINH NHU, (BELIEVED TO BE BEHIND RECENT ACTIONS AGAINST THE BUDDHISTS); AND GENERAL TRAN TU OAI, THE GOVERNMENT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE CHIEF.